US 12,191,456 B2 · Battery cell leak inspection device and battery cell leak inspection method

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for inspecting a leak of a battery cell are provided. An apparatus for inspecting a battery cell leak to inspect whether a battery cell leaks includes: a vacuum chamber including an upper chamber and a lower chamber and configured to set a receiving space to a controlled pressure different from an external first pressure, the upper chamber and the lower chamber being arranged to face each other with the receiving space for a battery cell therebetween and providing sealing for the receiving space; a vacuum pipe valve fluidly connected to the receiving space for the battery cell to set the receiving space to a second pressure less than the first pressure; and a thickness measuring sensor configured to measure a before-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the first pressure and measure an after-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the second pressure. According to the present disclosure, an apparatus and a method for inspecting a battery cell leak, capable of easily and precisely capturing damage to an exterior material of a battery cell are provided.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for inspecting for a battery cell leak, comprising:

a vacuum chamber including an upper chamber and a lower chamber and configured to set a plurality of receiving spaces to a controlled pressure different from a first pressure, the upper chamber and the lower chamber being arranged to face each other with the plurality of receiving spaces therebetween and providing sealing for the plurality of receiving spaces, wherein the plurality of receiving spaces are configured to receive a plurality of battery cells respectively;
one or more pipe valves connected to the upper chamber between the plurality of receiving spaces and fluidly connected to the plurality of receiving spaces to set the controlled pressure different from the first pressure, wherein the controlled pressure is common among the plurality of receiving spaces, the one or more pipe valves including a vacuum pipe valve fluidly connected to the plurality of receiving spaces for the plurality of battery cells to set the plurality of receiving spaces to a second pressure less than the first pressure;
and
a thickness measuring sensor configured to measure a before-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the first pressure and measure an after-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the second pressure.

1 more element

A method of inspecting a battery cell leak using an inspection apparatus including a vacuum chamber including an upper chamber and a lower chamber and having a plurality of receiving spaces therebetween for receiving a plurality of battery cells respectively, the inspection apparatus further including one or more pipe valves for controlling a pressure of an inside of the vacuum chamber, the one or more pipe valves connected to the upper chamber between a plurality of receiving spaces and fluidly connected to the plurality of receiving spaces to set a controlled pressure different from a first pressure, wherein the controlled pressure is common among the plurality of receiving spaces, the method comprising:

placing the plurality of battery cells to an inspection position such that an inspection stage is provided;
sealing the plurality of receiving spaces by lowering the upper chamber toward the lower chamber;
maintaining a vacuum pipe valve of the one or more pipe valves in an off-state to maintain the plurality of receiving spaces at the first pressure which is the same pressure as before the sealing of the vacuum chamber and measuring a before-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the first pressure;
switching the vacuum pipe valve to an on-state to set the plurality of receiving spaces of the battery cells to a second pressure lower than the first pressure;
and
measuring an after-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the second pressure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery cell leak inspection device and battery cell leak inspection method

Life of this patent

Battery cell leak inspection device and battery cell leak inspection method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21